Apparatus for cleaning slag pockets



July 10, 1928, I 1,676,555 .1. HORNE v APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SLAG POCKBTS Filed June 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EFIT DEFLECTING m en Patented July 10, 1928.

JAMES HORNE, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SLAG POGKETS.

Application filed June 17,

My invention relates to a method and apparatus for the cleaning of slag pockets in open hearth steel furnaces and the like, and contemplates the provision of a special burner means, adapted to be used when it will not interfere with the furnace operation, which will act to melt the slag, as it tends to accumulate, so that it can be drawn 01f 1n molten condition through a cinder tap hole in the slag pocket. I

In the Operation of open hearthsteel furnac'es,'which will serve as an illustrative application of my invention, slag pocketsare provided at each end of the furnace down into which molten drops of slag pass with the outgoing gases and fall upon the bottom of the slag pocket which is usually protected by refractory lining. The slag will accumulate in the pockets, rising approximately to the height of the bulk heads by the time it is necessary to shut down the furnace for relining. lNhen this occurs, the end walls of the pockets, under the bulk heads, are torn out and While the furnace is being relined the large accumulated mass of slag in the pocket is with great difliculty and at considerable expense removed.

My invention contemplates a method and means by which the slag can be intermittently removed from the pocket by the em ployment of a gas burner, preferably associated with a heat distributing arch, the heat from the burning gases acting to melt down the small accumulations of slag which may occur in a pocket between the week end bankdowns of the furnace and thus permit such slag to be removed through a cinder hole disposed at the lowest level of the pocket.

The practice of my improved process and the apparatus best suited for carrying it into effect, will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein in Fig. 1 I show a cross-section taken on the line II of Fig. 2 through one end of an open hearth steel furnace.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, 3 is an open hearth furnace having a top 4; and an end wall 5, and a furnace heating gas burner 6 which projects through an inset masonry hood 7 in said end wall. On each side of this hood I provide the usual down passages 8 and 9 through which 1927. v Serial No. 199,590.

the gases flow to the adjacent slag pocket 10. A main arch 11 supports the division wall 12 and the hood 7, as shown in Fig. 2, and is substantially spaced from the bottom 13 of the slap; pocket which slopes from both sides to the center and from one end towards the cinder hole 14 in its other end, which hole isnormally plugged with fire brick or the like. The end walls of the slag pocket have formed therein the usual bulk heads 15 and transversely across the center of the slag pocket I provide a heat deflecting arch '16 which is disposed with its high end above the slag burner 17 and its body arched down- -wardly towards and preferably converging ject its frame crosswise of the slag pocket with the arch deflecting and spreading the flame so as to cause it to be effective substantially throughout the bottom of the pocket to melt any slag thereon. The capacity of this burner and the effect of the arch will be to enable the burning gases to melt the slag in the pocket and cause it to pass out through the cinder hole 1 1.

It is undesirable to use the slag heating burners 17 for the furnace slag pockets when the furnace is in operation as such would tend to unbalance the distribution of heat and disturb the furnace operation. When, however, the furnace is banked down for week ends or shut down for any purpose, the burners 17 can be lighted and any slag accumulating since the last bank-down can be thus readily melted and drawn out through the cinder holes and the pockets thus always kept clean and open. I thus avoid any large accumulation of slag in the pockets and the necessity of tearing out the end walls of the pockets for its removal which I am enabled to effect without labor and practically without expense as there will be a surplus of gas available for the burners 17 when the furnace is banked or down.

Though I have described with great particularity the details of the embodiment of the invention herein shown, it is not to be construed that I am limited thereto, as

changes in arrangement and substitution of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with a slag pocket of an open hearth steel furnace and the like, of a burner adjacent to. the bottom of the pocket, a heat distributing arch disposed above the burner and inclined downwardly towards the opposite side of the pocket, said arch having its upper side sloping clownw aizd-ly to prevent accumulation of slag thereon, and a cinder hole provided in the side of thesla-g; pocket for removing the slag melted by the heat from said burner.

2. The combination with a slag pocket 0t an open hearth steel furnace and the like, comprising bottom sloping towards one side, a cinder hole at the low level of s d a. nd r 11016 at th low level of the 1 bottom, a main arch disposed transversely abo e the center of. e po ket, a heat dct ns' ch di pos centra ly nd r he main arch and inclined do\vn, vva1'c lly from one side towardsthe floor on the other side, and a gas burne ter ng he slag pocke below the heat deflecting arch,

4,. A slag pocket apparatus according to claim 3, in which the "heat deflecting arch is narrower than the main ar'chand is provided with a topv surface which slopes to each side.

In testimony whereoi' I afiix my sign ture.

J H R 

